Private Higher Education in Australia - an Overview Adrian McComb Executive Officer

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Private Higher Education in Australia - an
OverviewAdrian McCombExecutive Officer
COPHETony HeywoodRegistrar Campion College
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Defining Private Higher Education?

• Non Self Accrediting Institutions-
  public/government ownership common- accredited
  in multiple jurisdictions
• Private Universities (2)
• Theological and Faith Based Institutions
• For Profit/Not for Profit
• Professional/Industry Accreditation
• International Student focused-Pathways/foundation
  studies
• Vet providers
• Hotel and Tourism Schools

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Private Higher Education in Australia

• Some Historical Background
• Seminaries and Theological Colleges- original HE
  in Australia- Uni legislation in the 1850s and
  1880
• Other Longstanding Institutions
• - Avondale College 1897
• - Marcus Oldham College- ACPE established 1917
  as Swords Club
• Technical and Business Colleges
• Higher Education in Australia Predominantly
  Public
• 1988 Legislation

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Introducing COPHE

• Informally Established in 1999, Incorporated in
  2001
• Policy Objectives- Equity of Access in Student
  choiceand Loan availability- Quality of
  Outcomes- Diversity and Responsiveness to
  Change- Encouragement of Private Investment in
  Higher Education- Competition is welcomed

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COPHE Member Institutions

• Members
• Australian College of Applied Psychology
• Australian College of Physical Education  
• Australian Institute of Music  
• Australian Lutheran College  
• Avondale College  
• Bond University  
• Christian Heritage College  
• KvB Institute of Technology  
• Leo Cussen Institute  
• Marcus Oldham College  
• Moore Theological College  
• Perth Bible College  
• Shaftson
• Tabor College Adelaide
• Tahlee Bible College  
• Wesley Institute 

• Consortia 
• Australian College of Theology(24 member
  institutions)
• Brisbane College of Theology (3 members)
• Christian College of Higher Education (2 members)
• Associate Members
• Campion College
• Macquarie Christian Studies Institute
• Sydney Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Thompson Education Direct

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Higher Education Enrolments
2000
Pub Domestic 599878 Public Overseas
95607 Private Domestic 14782 Private Overseas
2040
Data Public Sector DEST Private COPHE
estimates based on a limited DEST EIP Funded data
collection in 2000
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Other Aspects of Private Sector

• For the Unambiguously Higher Ed Sector
• Fee Revenues estimated 90-100 Million
• Institutions Predominantly Not-for-profit
• 31 Approved as HEPS under HESA 2003
• 100 on AQF register
• Many Faith Based Institutions

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Private HE Features

• Small Institutions
• Isolated until recently
• Now engaging with broader issues- QA-
  compliance in admin and reporting- consumer
  protection
• Distinctive Missions
• Scholarly Ethos
• Average Annual Tuition Fee in 2000 was 7400 but
  will have increased significantly this year

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Impact of HESA 2003 Legislation

• For Commonwealth Approved HEPS
• Fee HELP Available to Students- U/G Students pay
  a 20 Loading- 50,950 lifetime limit
• Limited Funded Places for NPPs (Nursing and
  Teacher Education)
• - Only Notre Dame and three other Institutions
  allocated places (all were filled)
• - Institutions must comply with CGS requirements

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Regulation

• Imperatives to improve regulation (Greenwich
  University etc)
• MCEETYA National Protocols
• State Higher Education Guidelines
• Self-accrediting and non-self-accrediting
  institutions

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Campion College Australia
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Campion College Australia

• Australias first Liberal Arts College
• First intake in 2006
• Bachelor of Arts in the Liberal Arts
• The development of Western culture integrated
  curriculum Catholic context
• Future postgraduate
• Education business journalism

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Registration and Accreditation

• Institutional Details
• Legal identity
• Governance
• Org structure
• Financial Plans, Strategic Plans

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Registration and Accreditation

• Course Information
• Overview, rationale
• Course name, duration, AQF level
• Objectives, admission, RPL
• Content and structure, subject outlines
• Assessment, workload, delivery methods
• Academic staff, professional development,
  recruitment

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Registration and Accreditation

• Educational HR
• Support staff
• Accommodation and Facilities
• Library
• Student Support Services
• Code of Conduct
• Resourcing (enrolment numbers, fees)

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Registration and Accreditation

• Quality Management Systems
• Curriculum
• Course delivery
• Financial/admin infrastructure
• Staff processes

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Federal Regulation

• Approval as a Higher Education Provider (HEP)
• Allows access to FEE-HELP loans for students
• Financial viability and legal status
• Quality requirements
• Fairness requirements
• Stats, compliance
• Fee requirements
• Privacy

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Building University Diversity

• Paper released by DEST for comment
• Follows the Guthrie Report
• Why of interest to the private HE sector?
• COPHE submission
• Protocols preconceptions of what a university
  must be

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Examples of and Opportunities for Collaboration

• Paradigm Education Management System
• Development of Quality Audit Capability
• DGR Status
• Research Linkages
• Tuition Assurance

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• The Paradigm System
• Secure Access over the Internet via Web Browser
• DEST Reporting Compliant
• Suitable for Small Institutions with Limited
  IT Resources
• Cost Effective Implementation
• Centralised Backup, Help Desk and Support
• Multiple Campus and External Provider Support
• On Going Development and DEST
• Compliance rapid prototyping

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Issues for Private Providers

• Revised MCEETYA Protocols
• Cost and Complexity of Compliance
• Appropriate Quality Audit
• Inadequate Resourcing of State Agencies in
  Accreditation
• Additional NPPs
• Tuition Assurance Requirements
• Collaboration with Public Sector

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Higher Education EnrolmentsUndergraduate and
Postgraduate

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